Independent candidate survives assassination bid in Pak

Peshawar: An independent candidate survived an assassination bid today in northwest Pakistan, police said, a day after 135 people were killed in attacks on poll rallies in the country.

MalikRiaz, an independent candidate from PK 93 constituency LakkiMarwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was fired upon allegedly by workers of the rival MuttahidaMajlis-e-Amal (MMA) party when he was leading an election convoy towards the venue of a public meeting. Riaz remained unhurt and safe, police said.

An FIR has been registered in the AsmatullahShaheed police station Sarai e Naurang against the accused, including MMA candidate Malik Anwar Hayat, they said.

After the incident, Riaz in a statement alleged that Hayat and his supporters fired at his convoy as the MMA candidate wanted him to withdraw from the contest. Hayat also demanded Rs 50,000 extortion money from me, he further alleged.

At least 135 people, including BalochistanAwami Party leader NawabzadaSirajRaisani, were killed and over 200 others injured yesterday in a powerful suicide blast and a targeted attack on separate election rallies in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.